Apple makes great keyboards: they work well, look really nice, and are designed to work perfectly with your Mac. But every once in a while, something goes wrong.

Maybe you plug your keyboard in and nothing happens. Perhaps your computer won't pick up the Bluetooth signal from the board. Or maybe pressing the keys doesn't do anything. Here's what to do when your Apple keyboard isn't working.

If Your Magic or Wireless Keyboard Isn't Working

We'll start with wireless keyboards, like the ones you'll use with an iMac, Mac mini, or Mac Studio, as there are a few more issues these can run into compared to their wired counterparts. No matter what's happening with your keyboard, try these steps first:

1. Make Sure Bluetooth Is Enabled and Working

Don't overlook the most obvious solutions when trying to fix problems. First, go to System Settings > Bluetooth and make sure that you've got Bluetooth turned on.

The System Settings panel will tell you if your devices are connected, if they're low on battery, or if there are any other errors.

If the preferences panel or your menu bar shows a Bluetooth icon with a jagged line through it (see the image below), that means Bluetooth is offline. Restart your Mac and see if that helps. If not, unplug all USB devices and restart again.

bluetooth icons macos

Take a look at our guide to fixing Bluetooth on your Mac if this still doesn't resolve the issue.

2. Make Sure Your Keyboard Is On

If your iMac's Wireless or Magic Keyboard is not connecting, you should first check that it's actually turned on:

  • On the latest Magic Keyboards, slide the switch on the back edge of the device so that the green color becomes visible.
  • For older Apple Wireless Keyboards, press the Power button on the right edge and you should see the green LED light up on the top.

After your device is on, go back to the Bluetooth preferences panel and see if it's connected. If your keyboard is searching for your computer but not connecting, select the keyboard in the list of devices and click Connect (if your device isn't listed, skip ahead to step five below).

3. Check the Battery Level of Your Keyboard

If the batteries in your keyboard are getting low, you may have some performance problems, or it can stop your keyboard from connecting. Go to System Settings > Bluetooth and you can see a small battery indicator below the listed—and connected—keyboard.

check battery level of keyboard

You can also see the battery level of your connected devices by clicking on the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar. If the battery is low, you should replace or charge it.

4. Make Sure Mouse Keys and Slow Keys Are Turned Off

Some macOS accessibility features can interfere with normal keyboard operation.

To check this, go to System Settings > Accessibility and select Pointer Control. Under Alternative Control Methods, make sure that Mouse Keys is turned off. This option allows you to control the mouse using keyboard keys, resulting in a number of keys possibly not working.

turn off mouse keys

Next, go to Accessibility > Keyboard and make sure that Slow Keys is toggled off. When enabled, this requires you to hold the keys for longer for them to register as a press.

turn off slow keys

5. Re-Pair Your Keyboard With Your Computer

If your Apple wireless keyboard is still not working or not connecting, you can try to remove and re-pair it with your Mac.

In the Bluetooth preferences panel, make sure that Bluetooth is enabled. Mouse over your keyboard in the list of devices, and click Disconnect.

disconnect apple keyboard

Right-click (or command-click) on the keyboard and select Forget. A warning will pop up, so click Forget Device to confirm.

Now turn off your keyboard and turn it back on again. The indicator light should start blinking. The keyboard will appear under Nearby Devices. Hover over it and click Connect, then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

re-pair a bluetooth keyboard

If Your Mac USB Keyboard Is Not Working

If your Mac mini or iMac keyboard is not working, and it's connected via USB, complete the following steps to diagnose and solve the problem:

1. Try a Different USB Port

Unplug your keyboard from the current USB port and try another one. If it works, you can try it in the original port again. If it only works in one USB port, you may need to fix your computer's USB ports.

2. Check the System Report

From the Apple menu (found at the top-left of the screen), click About This Mac. Select More Info, then click the System Report button. Once the System Report window has opened, click on USB in the Hardware section of the left sidebar.

From here, you can see what your computer detects from your USB ports.

check keyboard in usb settings system report

If your computer has detected the keyboard, you'll see Apple Keyboard listed under one of the USB ports. If it's not listed, try restarting your computer and resetting the SMC and PRAM. You only need to do this on an Intel Mac—you don't need to reset SMC and PRAM on Apple Silicon Macs.

3. Turn Bluetooth Off

Go to System Settings > Bluetooth and make sure that Bluetooth is off. If this solves the problem, it's possible that your computer is recognizing a Bluetooth keyboard and prioritizing it over your USB keyboard.

If you need to keep Bluetooth on, you can remove the keyboard from the list by hovering over it and clicking Disconnect.

4. Make Sure Mouse Keys and Slow Keys Are Turned Off

The same accessibility features we mentioned earlier can affect wired keyboards too. Go to System Settings > Accessibility and select Pointer Control. Under Alternative Control Methods, make sure that Mouse Keys is turned off. Now go to Accessibility > Keyboard and make sure that Slow Keys is off as well.

turn off mouse keys

5. Connect Your Keyboard Through an Extension Cord or USB Hub

Apple's USB keyboards come with a USB extension cord that increases the reach of the included USB cable. Try plugging your keyboard into one end of this cord with the other end going into your computer. If you don't have a USB extension cord, you can also use a USB hub.

No one seems to know why this is so effective, but it often works!

Bonus Tip: Clean Your Keyboard

Finally, a general tip that applies whether you're using a wireless or wired keyboard: keep it clean. Keyboards become filthy very quickly, with grease and grime from your fingers and crumbs from your lunch, and this can interfere with how they function.

We mentioned using a different USB port for your wired keyboard, but also make sure both the port and the USB jack are clean.

And if your keyboard connects properly but still doesn't work as it should, you can clean under your keyboard keys to remove anything that might be interfering with it. And yes, it is possible to remove the keys from an Apple Magic Keyboard.

We'd also recommend picking up some keyboard cleaning products to help keep it fresh and looking good.

Mac Keyboard Still Not Working? Know When to Admit Defeat

As with any troubleshooting attempt, it's good to know when to admit defeat. If you try the solutions above and none of them work, it might be time to consult staff at your local Apple Store (particularly if the device is under warranty). You can also try searching for your specific problem online to find others who have solved that issue.

Apple hardware is pretty reliable, but not totally foolproof. You should always keep an eye out for early signs that your Mac has a problem, so you can fix it before it's too late.